One of Gibraltar's highlights is a trip on the Cable Car, if you're scared of heights just look up, it's always the same distance upwards but whatever you do don't miss out on this incredible experience.
Built and completed by a Swiss Cable Car manufacturer, Von Roll, in 1966 the Cable Car is a must for all visitors to the Rock. The Top Station is the best place to meet our most famous residents, the barbary apes, not to mention the views and the unique hand held personnel Multimedia Guide all included in the price of your ticket. It is the perfect location to relax while enjoying the spectacular vistas with a hot or cold drink and a light snack. The Top of the Rock Souvenir Shop is also packed with unique gifts not available in town.
Top Station
After the exhilarating Cable Car ride to 412m above sea level it's time to take in the scenery, take a photo with an Ape and buy a 'Top of the Rock' souvenir.
Before we talk about the magnificent views from the Top Station of the Cable Car we need to mention those most mischievous of locals, the apes! There is a wild pack of apes waiting to give you a special performance of their entertaining acrobatics. In fact they will no doubt be the first to greet you as you step off the cabin and we are sure you will be immediately struck by the freedom they enjoy. They are happy for you to take photographs of them and with them but be warned, they are wild animals and will bite when threatened. DO NOT attempt to touch them and they will smell food a mile off, especially if it is in a plastic bag. It is advisable that you hide all plastic bags as they are the most opportunistic thieves you will ever meet! Enjoy their company but keep your distance, especially if there are young ones around.
Another pack of apes can be found at the Apes Den located at the middle station of the Cable Car. We recommend that should you want to wonder around the Ape's Den you do so on your return to the base station. Please be advised that the Cable Car will not stop at the middle station between the months of April to September.
The Rock itself is an impressive sight but it's only when seen from on high that you begin to appreciate why so many have wished to conquer this small isthmus and why it has played such an important part in world history. From the terraces of the Top Station you can gaze down over the town below, look north towards the Sierra Nevada over the Costa del Sol, look east over the blue Mediterranean Sea and south across Strait of Gibraltar to the Rif Mountains of North Africa. In short you will view 2 continents, 3 countries and the meeting point of 2 great bodies of water. Impressive is not the word!
Included in your Cable Car ticket is the personal Multimedia handheld audio visual guide which is unique in Gibraltar to the Top Station. It will guide you round the Top Station terraces and give you an interesting insight into the Rock's fascinating history. The guide is available in 7 languages, English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portugese. Staff at the Top Station will ask you to leave some kind of ID before handing over the Mulitimedia unit. This will be returned to you when you return the unit before departing the Top Station complex.
If the purpose of your visit to Gibraltar is to get married you will find no more spectacular venue than the exclusive Mons Calpe Suite located within the Cable Car Top Station complex. To find out more click here.
The Cable Car is open all year round seven days a week, except Christmas day, New Years Day and the odd day when the wind gets a little too rebellious. If you are coming from the frontier the number 3 bus stops right outside the Cable Car or you can pick the bus up in town along Line Wall Road.
If you want to experience some of the Rock on foot the Cable Car is the ideal place to set off from. The ride to the Top Station is 6 minutes of sheer wonder with views all the way to the top. From the Top Station you can then walk down into the Nature Reserve.
We recommend that you take advantage of the Cable Car's exclusive Cable Car and Nature Reserve combination tickets. Click here to find out more.
Once you've handed your multimedia back in you can either enjoy the downhill amble to St Michael's cave or take the Cable Car once again down to the Ape's Den or to the Base Station. From here you are a 5 min walk from the South end of Main Street where you can shop to you drop!
How to get there:
The Cable Car is located at the southern end of Main Street right next to the Alameda Botanical Gardens. Buses no2, 3 & 4 will all drop you off within sight of the Cable Car base station. Just ask the helpful bus drivers to point you in the right direction. If you do plan to drive in (you are warned you might find yourself in a lengthy queue to enter and/or exit Gibraltar) and are looking for a car park you might be lucky and find a free space on Grand Parade.
Opening Times
09:30-19:15 7 days a week. Last Cable Car down 19:45
Except 1st Nov to 31st March 09:30-17:15. Last Cable Car down 17:45
N.B. The Cable Car will not stop at the middle station between the months of April to September
The Cable Car runs continuously throughout the day, approx every 10 min. No reservation is required.